Rub of the Green
A "rub of the green" occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see Rule 19-1).
Outside Agency
An "outside agency" is any agency not part of the match or, in stroke play, not part of the competitor’s side, and includes a referee, a marker, an observer and a forecaddie. Neither wind nor water is an outside agency.
A hazard stake is an obstruction. A tee marker is an obstruction. A sprinkler head is an obstruction. Usually, a 150 yard marker is an obstruction. These things are never outside agencies.
Hitting an obstruction is not Rub of the Green. Hitting a tree is not Rub of the Green. Hitting equipment is not Rub of the Green. A bad bounce off of a mound in the fairway is not Rub of the Green. Hitting the flagstick and bouncing off the green is not Rub of the Green.
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